Documented Essay
Vertical Farming and its Contribution to Minimizing Jamaica’s Food Import Crisis

Abstract
Jamaica has not been able to meet the demands for food for its population and its visitors. The purpose of this research is to identify a solution for Jamaica’s dependence of attaining agricultural produce from external sources. This is achieved through vertical farming, the process of growing plants and animals in high rise buildings or cultivating upward in an isolated greenhouse. Numerous literature and statistical data are analyzed. Jamaica, over half a century, is faced with the high price of importation; however, the execution of vertical farming aims to reduce import costs. Through assessing the progress of vertical farming in Singapore, a resolution for Jamaica is made; not only satisfying population consumption, but allowing businesses to profit from the introduced farming technique. The plan is to achieve success in more areas than one with vertical farming. However, if implemented and the venture fails, there will be no returns on the capital invested.

In Jamaica, decades ago, subsistence farming provided food for farmers and their families. With rising populations, and lack of access to fertile soil for many, this method had been somewhat inadequate. Transitioning to traditional commercial farming is also not able to sufficiently provide for populated centres. With a rise in the modern technology of vertical farming in Jamaica, food availability concerns will be reduced. Garg and Balodi (2014) state “a vertical farming can be defined as a system of commercial farming whereby plants, animals, fungi, and other life forms are cultivated for food, fuel, fiber, or other products by artificially stacking them vertically above each other.” Developed countries have opted to operate vertical farms, and have reaped success while developing countries,